Juxtapoz is one of my favourite mags, and I also love their supermodern, happily leftfield series of art books.

I checked the Dark Arts volume out of Central library recently; two of my favourite artists, Polly Morgan and Liz McGrath are in there and I also discovered a bunch of awesome people whose work hadn’t crossed my path yet. It is a rad book – available here if you can’t resist!

Wendy Cogan Toyoda ♥

“I align symbols of the decorative with the cheap, gaudy and luxurious to create an atmosphere of discomfort… I want to raise the question of what it is to be feminine.”
– Wendy Cogan Toyoda, via Juxtapoz Dark Arts (USA, 2009)

Miss Van ♥

“The idea of provocativeness has also a part in my conception of my work. I have always liked painting a sexy doll in an inappropriate place. I want to provoke strong reactions.”
– Miss Van, via EureakArt

Greg Simkins ♥

“The best piece of advice I have ever gotten was to discover my own voice in my art.”
– Greg Simkins, via this interview at Empty Kingdom

Wellington Library rules, I actually don’t know what I would do without it: cookbooks, fashion design, graphic design, illustration, Bitch, Bust, Frankie, craft, cross stitch, costume. All for free (aside from the fines!).

Other Juxtapoz volumes include Tattoo, Illustration, Handmade and Poster Art. Cosmic has sold all of these at one time or another, so had the chance to check them out well when I was working there. Dark Arts is definitely my favourite – there is something about this flavour of art that I am drawn to more than any other; I guess it what feels the most beautiful to me.